Meredith to Acquire Shape Magazine Brand

Publisher to Combine Shape With Fitness Magazine

Meredith Corp.
MDP -2.41%
on Wednesday said it is acquiring Shape magazine, as well as the digital assets of the Shape, Natural Health and Fit Pregnancy brands, from American Media.

The publisher said the move boosts its presence in the women’s active-lifestyle media category.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed for deal, part of a string of acquisitions, alliances and launches by Meredith as it aims to expand its audience. Last year, Meredith reached a 10-year licensing deal for the Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings brands.

Meredith said it plans to combine Shape with its Fitness magazine starting with the May issue. However, the Shape and Fitness websites sites will continue to operate separately.

Tom Witschi, president of Meredith’s women’s-lifestyle segment, will oversee the new brands. The digital brands and related assets will report to Jon Werther, president of Meredith Digital.

During the first half of last year, Meredith’s Better Homes & Gardens had the largest paid and verified circulation among U.S. consumer magazines at 7.6 million, an increase of 0.2%, according to figures from the Alliance for Audited Media.